Ep. 80-Music beyond the notes—my conversation with Omer Avital

In  this episode, I join jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Omer Avital in his beautiful, intimate studio in Brooklyn, NY. Born in Givatayim, Israel, to Moroccan and Yemeni parents, Omer studied classical guitar from age 11 before eventually shifting to acoustic bass. We talk about his 1992 arrival in New York, where he shook up the city playing in groups with jazz legends Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Garrett, and Rashied Ali. We discuss his musical influences and the importance of learning about the elders and jazz masters who paved the way for him, as well as politics in the Middle East and how he views it all as an artist. Lastly we consider the Brooklyn oasis he created called Wilson Live. Founded in 2018, Wilson Live provides a platform that enables local artists to document and present their work in an easy and effective way, all while forming a musical community in the heart of the borough. Wilson Live hosts weekly musical happenings with great homemade food by its culinary curator, Yoav Adereth.https://www.omeravital.com